Category Archives: Documentary

 
 
 

Help needed after the fire in Lever Street, Manchester on 30 April

On 30 April, just four days after I wrote about the Basement Social Centre in Manchester city centre and said what a unique and absolutely spiffing place it was, a huge fire ripped through a building to the rear of it.

 

The Power of Nightmares

If you haven’t seen this fascinating three-part BBC documentary series, you can download it from the Internet Archive:

Part1 | Part2 | Part3

It explores ‘the origins in the 1940s and 50s of Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East, and Neoconservatism in America, parallels between these movements, and their effect on the world today.’ And it shows how politicians have used the terror threat to restore their power and authority in a disillusioned age.

It’s a brilliant use of archive film of all kinds, combined with interviews. Give it a look even if you don’t usually watch this kind of subject, because it’s interesting to see how Adam Curtis the producer combines such diverse visual material.

If you have problems playing MP4 files, just grab the free VideoLan player.

 

Liberation 91 protest, Manchester, UK 1991 (video)

Don’t believe the big fibs that are put around by commercial vested interests today. They make out that Manchester was some kind of gay wasteland before Canal Street took off in the early 1990’s.

 

Why Guy Fawkes night is dreaded by many in inner-city areas of Britain

Download: Windows Media (wmv) |
Quicktime/iPod (mov)

In Britain, 5th November is Bonfire Night. When it’s traditional to let off fireworks and burn a dummy of Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605.

However, for many people in inner-city areas, this has become a time of year that they dread. This video is a glimpse into why.

Click through to the web page for full information and links. Flash video version also available there.